47
VITAL STATISTICS FOR THE COUNTY OF
ESSEX.
By JOHN C. THRESH, D.Sc., M.B., F.R.Met.Soc, etc.
(Medical Officer of Health for the Chelmsford and Maldon Rural Sanitary Districts.)
[Read March 21st, 1891.]
THE following statistics have been compiled from the returns of
the Registrar-General for the several quarters of the year 1890.1
The population of Essex in the middle of 1890, according to the
Registrar-General's method of estimation, will be 676,410, but, as I
pointed out last year, the probability is that this is too low. Calcu-
lating the population of the rural and urban districts separately I
estimate the population at 743,390. The census to be taken this
spring will show which is the more correct. The rates given in the
tables which follow, and having reference to the whole country, are
based upon the higher estimate.
Marriages.—During the year 4,625 marriages have been regis-
tered in the county, giving an annual rate of 12.4 per 1,000 per-
sons living as compared with 12.0 for the three preceding years.
Births.—The number of births registered was 23,254, giving a
birth-rate of 31.3 per 1,000 persons living. The mean rate for the
preceding three years was 33.1, so that the decline is steadily continu-
ing.
Deaths.—During the year 12,873 deaths have been registered,
giving a death-rate of 17.3 against 177 for the preceding ten years
and 15.1 for the year 1889.
The number of deaths of infants under 1 year was 3,196, giving
a mortality of 137 per 1,000 children born. This is above the
average and considerably higher than the rate which obtained last
year, viz., 113 deaths per 1,000 births.
The deaths from all causes included 1,785 from the seven principal
zymotic diseases, giving a death-rate of 2.4 per 1,000, which is about
the mean for the preceding ten years, but considerably higher than
the rate for 1889 which was only 1.6.
In the following table the death, birth, marriage rates, and infantile
mortality, are compared with the corresponding rates for England and
Wales.
1 For the summary of the Sanitary Condition of Essex for the ten years, 1879-1388, and for
the year 1889, see Dr. Thresh's paper in Essex Naturalist, vol. iv. pp. 97-99. —Ed.